Block-signal system.



W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION r|LD1uNE2s.19o8. RENEWED Nov.27.191s.

Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W/TNESSES A TTOH/VEYS W. V. RYDER.

BLOC-K SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLlcMfoN FILED JUNE 25! 190s. RENEWED Nov. 21. 1915.

Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Illl-l v yder W/TNESSES if? A TTOHNEYS W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION `FILI-ID JUNE 25.1908. RENEVIED NOV.27. 1915.

l ,l 92,566 Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

Y Mfg..

Anon/vers v W/ TNE SSE S W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 25. 190s. IIENEwED Nov. 27. I9I5.

l ,1 92,566.. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Bymr.

A TTOHNE YS W. V. RYDER.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IuNE 25. 1908. RENEwED Nov. 21. 1915.

1,I92.,j566. Patented July 25, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

W/TNESSES /NVENTO/' ,4 TTOHNE YS me :miams mens ca.. naam-umu. .usmucmu, n. a.

lilhl llilil PATENT FFlQFi.

WILLIAM VERNON RYDER, F NORTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratenteu Jury es, isis.

Application filed .Tune 1908, Serial No. 440,256. VRenewed November 27,1915. Serial No. 63,906.

Hampshire and State of ll/lassachusetts, have invented a new andimproved Block-Signal System, of which the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to block signal systems, my more particular purposebeing to maintain signal lamps in condition to show danger when a blockis occupied. and at no other time, the signaling to be as nearly aspracticable independent of the number of trains which may occupy theblock, and controllable by the direction in which these trains aretraveling.

Briefly summarized, my invention comprises trolley switches at each endof the .f block, to be operated automatically by movements of thetrains, and a main switch and two auxiliary switches locatedintermediate the ends of the block and operated electrically from thetrolley switches; the purpose of the main switch being tocontrol thesignal lamps which are stationary, and also to control` in a supervisorycapacity the auX- iliary switches, the. latter being used only when acar enters or leaves a block from the opposite direction while othercars are occupying the same block and have previously obtained controlof the main switch, so that the intruding car has no el'ect upon n the.main switch and signal lines but controls one or the other of theauxiliary switches.

The arrangement of the switches and wiring is such` that when the lastcar .leaves the block thc lights are extinguished, and so lono as anyone or more cars occupies the i block a red lamp is burning at one endof the block and a white lamp at the other end thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyingl drawings :l'orming a part ofthis specification. in \-.'h ich similar characters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a diagram of the system coinplete. showing thelccation ofthe twotrolley switches, one at each end of the block, the main switchand two auxiliary switches sabstantially in the center of the block, awhite and a red lamp at each end of the bloclr, and wiring forconnecting up the lamps with the switches and with the trolley line; Fi2 is a plan view of the main switch carrying s'x contact arms, thelatter being adapted to engage and disengage stationary sectors, theview further showing the magnets and their connections for turning themain shaft of the switch in either or both of two directions as the casemay be; Fig. 3 vis a side elevation of the main switch; Fig. 4 is avertical section upon the line 4*/l of Fig. 3, looking in the directionof the arrow, and showing one of the Contact arms carried by therevoluble shaft of the main switch and arranged to open and close one ofthe circuits; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the main switch, showing howthe magnets when energized at different times cause the shaft to turnstep by step and to be locked after each step, the direction of rotationof the shaft depending upon which magnet is energized; Fig. 6 is a planview of the auxiliary switch shown at the left of the main switch inFig. 1; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the auxiliary switch shown in Fig.6; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section upon the line 8MS of Fig. 6, lookingin the direction of the arrow and showing mechanism for turning theshaft of the auxiliary switch step by step in one direction, themovement, however, not taking place until after the magnet shown isenergized and completely denergized; Fig. 9 is a section upon the line9-9 of Fig. 6, locking' in the direction of the arrow, and showing meansfor turning the shaft of one of the auxiliary switches in a directionopposite to that indicated in Fig. 6.

For convenience (see Fig. 1) 1 designate the trolley switches as 14, 15,the lamp signals as 16, 17, the rmain or counting switch as 18 and thetwo auxiliary switches as 19, 20. The two trolley switches 14, 15 arealike and may be of the usual or any approved construction of doubleacting switches controllable by motions of the rolling stock. Each ofthese trolley switches is provided with two contact springs 42, 44 andbetween them is a swinging block 31 carrying two contacts 43, 45. When acar moving in one direction passes one of these switches, it swings theblock 31 in one direction, and when the car passes the switch going inthe opposite direction, it swings the block 31 in the oppositedirection. The contact springs 44, 42 of the trolley switch 14 areconnected respectively with wires 49, 50. The contact springs 42, 44 ofthe other trolley switch 15 are connected with wires 65, 66. A trolleywire is shown at 56 and is engaged by a trolley wheel 61 which ismounted in the usual or any preferred mannery upon a trolley harp 62.The trolley wire 56 is provided with turn-out forks 63, 64, as indicatedin Fig. 1. Two wires 65, 66 (see right of Fig. 1) are connected with thetrolley switch 15 and have the same relation thereto that the two wires49, have to the trolley switch 14.

rlhe lamp signals 16, 17 (see Fig. 1) comprise lamp ca sings 67, 68disposed one at each end `-of the block. Mounted within the lamp casing67 are ared lamp 69 and a white lamp 70, both being connected with aground wire 71. Mounted within the lamp casing 68 are a red lamp 72 anda white lamp 73, both being connected with a ground wire 74. The mainswitch 18 can best be understood by reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

Mountedrupon a board 75 are electromagnets 76, 77 provided with rockingarmatures 78, 79, the latter being provided with upwardly projectingstems 80, 81. The roeking armatures are supported by bearings 82. Aslide rod 83 is connected with the stem 80 of the armature 78 by aid ofa pin 85. A slide rod 84 is similarly connected with the stem 81 of theJarmature 79 by aid of a pin 86. A spiral spring 83a is connected withthe rod 83 for retracting the same to its normal position when thearmature 78 is released. A similar spring 88 performs substantially thesame function for the slide rod 84. y

Posts 87 connected together by an Xfframe 88a support most of the partsjust described. Two toothed wheels 89,90 are so disposed that the teethof the wheel 89` incline oppositely to those of the whel 90. The slide-rod 83 is provided (see Fig. 5) with a downwardly turned portion 91tofacilitate the movement of the rod under the impulse of the armature78, and the slide rod 84 is provided with a downwardly turned portion84a for a similar purpose.

Pawls 92, 93 are mounted upon the slide rods 8 3, 84 and are adapted toengage the toothed wheels 90, 89. A toothed wheel 94 engages a spring 95having its middle portion bent upwardly for the purposeV of retainingthe wheel 94' and parts associated therewith in definite positions. Sidestrips 96 are connected with the posts 87 and serve to support the sliderods. The X-braces 8 8a (see Fig. 2) merely serve as braces for vtheposts 87 .Y Bearings 99, 100 are mounted upon the board 7 5-and supportthe main shaft 101.,` The latter carries the various toothed wheelsabove described. A number of rods 102 connect together partitions 103spacedequidistant. The first of these partitions (that is, the onenearest the magnets 76, 77) is provided with metallic sectors 104,

105, of considerable length, and with shorter sectors 106, 107, ofinsulating material, all of the sectors together forming a completecircle, as Awill be understood from Fig. 1. Mounted upon the neXtpartition are metallic sectors-108, 109, and sectors v110, 111,

ofy insulating material, the sectors last mentioned being shorter thanthe sectors 108, 109. Mounted upon the third partition is a singlemetallic sector 112, and a single sector 113 of insulating material,these two sectors together constituting a circle. The next partition isprovided with a semicircular sector 114 of insulating material and asemicir'cular sector r115 of metal. rfhe fifth partition is providedwith a comparatively long sector 116 of insulating material, and

is connected with a spiral metallic spring,

120 whereby its resilience is increased.

X-braces 127, 128 are mounted upon the rods 102. Springs 129, 130 areconnected with the contact arms 121, 122, as will be understood fromFig. 3. These Contact arms are mounted pivotally and are provided attheir lower Vends with portions 131, 132. Mounted rigidly upon theX-braces 127 128, are cams 133, 134, each having substantially the formof a semicircle. As the main shaft 101 is turned, the portions 131, 132of the contact arms 121, 122 engage these cams and the contact arms aretherefore moved out of engagement with their sectors. The purpose ofthis arrangement is to open 4positively such circuits as may becontrolled by the contact arms in question and to prevent areing.Metallic plates 136 are mounted upon disks 137 of insulating material.Each X-brace 127, 128 is provided with a back rib 136iL whereby itisstrengthened. Each meico tallic plate 136 is engaged by a contactspring 135 whereby current is supplied to it. Each disk 137 carries ametallic plate 139 upon which is journaled one of the direction,according to Fig. 5, the degreeof rotation representing the length ofone tooth in any one ofthe wheels. The action of the spring contact armsabove described. Me-

spring is to prevent too easy rotation of the shaft in either direction,the movable parts thus being practically locked. 1f, now, the sainemagnet be energized again, the shaft makes a second movement like theone just described, but progressive in relation thereto. 1f, however,the magnet 76 is energized, the shaft turns in the opposite direction adistance representing the length of one tooth. If either magnet 76, 77be energized in succession a number of times, the shaft and partscarried by it will travel step by step. If the magnets be energizedalternately, each tends to undo the work of the other.

From the above description of the main switch not much trouble need beexperienced in understanding the mechanism of the action of theauxiliary switches. As these switches are exactly alike, with the exception that they are reversed in every detail, only one of theauxiliary switches will be described, the relation of the other beingclear from the diagram in Fig. 1.

The auxiliary switch 19 is provided with a base 141 and mounted uponthis base are electromagnets 142, 143. The magnet 142 is provided withan armature 144 mounted upon av stem 145, the latterl being pivoted uponthe base 141. The upper end of the stem 145 is provided with a bentportion 146 which engages a downwardly turned portion 147 of a slide rod148. This slide rod is drawn to the left according to Fig. 9, Wheneverthe magnet 142 is energized. A spring 149 is connected to a lug 150carried by this lslide rod and is also connected with a stationary bar151. The armature 144 is provided with a stem 152 projecting upwardlyfrom it. A revoluble shaft 153 is mounted in bearings 154, 155. Themagnet 143 is provided'with a rocking armature 156, and extendingupwardly from it is a stem 157 provided at its top with a cylindricalportion 158. Mounted adjacent to this portion and supported by the rods151, 155 is a slide rod 159 provided with a downwardly turned portion160. This portion may be engaged by the cylindrical portion 158 of thestern 157 whenever the armature 156 is attracted by the magnet 143, aswill be understood from Fig. 8. Mounted upon the under side of the sliderod 159 is a pawl 161. A spring 162 is connected with this pawl. Atoothed wheel 163 mounted upon the shaft 153 is in the same plane as thepawl 161 and is adapted to be engaged intermittently thereby. A wheel162a is supported on the shaft 153, to be engaged by the pawl 154.

The slide rod 159 is provided with a screw 164 projecting upwardly andserving as a limiting stopfor preventing excessive travel of this sliderod when the latter has been displaced from its normal position and isbeing retracted to the same. A slide rod 159m is provided, and mountedover it is a spiral spring 165, which is connected with the bar 155constituting a part of the framework. A leaf spring 166 (see Fig. 6) iscarried by the slide rod 159a and yengages a dog 167 having generallythe form of a latch. A spring 167 used for retracting this dog extendsfrom the dog to the stationary bar 151. This dog is pivotally mountedupon the top of the slide rod 1591. A stop pin 168 is also mounted uponthe slide rod 159a and projects upwardly from the same.

A cam 169, having generally the form of a triangle, is mounted upon thebar 151. Mounted upon the slide rod 159 and projecting upwardlytherefrom is a lug 170 mating the dog 167 and adapted to be engagedthereby. A stop pin 17 Oa is mounted upon the slide rod 159 and servesto limit excessive travel of this slide rod. An X-brace 171 is connectedwith posts 156; another X-brace 171b is similarly connected with posts185 for the purpose of bracing these posts. A

toothed wheel 171 is mounted rigidly upon the shaft 153 and is engagedby a spring 17:2 for the purpose of holding the shaft 153 and partsaccompanying the same in definite positions after the various successivemovefr ments of the shaft.

A metallic sector 173 and a sector 174 of insulating material are matedtogether and formed into a circle. Somewhat similarly a sector 175 ofinsulating material and a metallic sector 176 are placed together so asto form a circle. The sectors 173, 174 are mounted upon a partition 177and the sectors 175, 176 are mounted upon a second partition 178. Therelative positions of the four sectors are indicated in the lowerlefthand corner of the diagram shown in Fig. 1.

Contact arms 179, 180 are mounted upon the shaft 153 and are turned bythe rotation thereof. Connected with these contact arms are springs 181,182 serving as conductors and connected with insulated disks 181, 189aof metal, these disks being engaged Aby contact springs 183 in order tosupply current to the contact arms 179, 180. The magnets 142, 143, inacting upon their arma'- tures and ultimately causing the rotation ofthe shaft 153, do not perform alike. lVhenever the magnet 142Ais'energized, the shaft 153 turns in a clockwise direction according toFig. 1, this being a contraclockwise direction according to Fig. 9, andthis movement takes place the instant the magnet 142 is energized. When,however, the magnet 143 is energized the shaft 153 does not moveimmediately, as will be understood from Fig. 8. It is only after themagnet 143 is denergized that the pawl 161 engages the toothed wheel 163and turns the shaft 153 in a clockwise direction.

When the magnet 143 is energized so as to attract its armature 156 andto push the slide rod 159, the lug 170 engages the dog 167, swinging thelatter to the left foran instant, according to Fig. 6, until the dogcatches above the lug. the spring 166 then forcing the dog back into itsnormal position so as to hold thelug. The parts remain in this positionso long as the current flows, the shaft 153 meanwhile being motionless.

As soon, however, as the magnet 143 is de energized the slide rod '159moves back tolits normal position, carrying with it the -slide rod 159L(see spring 167, Fig. 8) and in doing this the dog 167, by itsengagement with Ais released from engagement with the lug 170, as abovedescribed, the slide rod returns to its normal position thus removingthe pawl 161 from the wheel 163. It will thus be seen how the rotationof the shaft 153 in a clockwise direction, according to Fig. 8, isretarded. The partitions 177, 178 are cut away inside of the circlesrepresented by the sectors 173, 174, 175, 176, in order to allow thesprings 181, 182 to extend through the partitions. These partitions areconnected'together and supported by rods 184.

The metallic sector 104 (see Fig. 1) is connected by a wire 189 with twowires 187 a, 187), the wire 187a leading to the white Vlamp 70, and thewire 187b leading to the red lamp 72. A wire 188 is connected with themetallic sector 105 and with wires 189, 190, the wire 189 leading to thewhite lamp 73 while the wire 190 is connected with the red lamp 69. Awire 191 is connected with the contact arm 121 and also with the trolleywire 56. rlhe magnet 77 of the main switch is grounded through wires192, 193, 194. The wires 192, 193 form a junction with the wire 195which is connected by a wire 196 with the magnet 142. The wires 195, 196form a junction with a wire 197 which leads to the magnet 143. Thismagnet is connected by a wire 198 with the sector 176. A wire 199 joinsthe wire 50 and is connected withvthe contact arm 180 of the auxiliarywire 201 with a wire 202, the latter leading'Y to the contact arm 122 ofthe main switch. v

From the magnet 142 a wire 203 leads to the metallic sector 117,'V Awire 204 leads from Vto the sector 118.

the contact arm 125 to the vwires 49, 193. Connected with the magnet 77is a wire 205l anda wire 206 connects the wire last mentioned with themetallic sector 109. A wire 207 is connected with the metallic sector112 and with the wires 205, 206.

From the magnet 76 a wire 208 leads to a wire 209, the latter beingconnected with the ground wire 194. The magnet 76 is connect- 19 areshown in the lower right hand corner of Fig. 1. Sectors 217,218, 219,220 and the contact arms 222, 224,'having their analogous counterpartsin the auxiliary switch 19, are shown in the lower right hand corner ofFig. 1. Sectors 217, 218, 219, 220 and the contact arms 222, 224, havingtheir analogous counterparts inV the auxiliary switch 19, are shown inthe lower right-hand corner of Fig. 1. Connected with the wires 208, 209is a wire 225. The magnets 215, 216 are connected with this wire by aidof wires 226, 228. A wire 227 leads from the magnet 215 The ynfiagnet216 is connected with the sector 218 by a wire 229.

The operation of my system is as follows: lThe various parts beingconnected up as indicated in Fig. 1, and occupying their respectivenormal positions, we will assume that a single Vcar enters the blockfrom the left. The trolley wheel 61 carried by the car causes therocking block 31 to swing sp as to force the contact plate 45momentarily into engagement with the contact spring 44.

The following circuit is thereby completed: w itrolley wire 56, contactplate 45, contact springr44, wire 49 (see Fig. 1) wire 1,93, contact arm123 (now resting on sector 112), wires r207, 205, magnet 77 of main'switch 18, wires 192, 193 and 194 to ground. rllhis energizes themagnet 77 and by turning the revoluble shaft of the main switch 18'vcauses all of the contactarms 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, carried bysaid main shaft to turn onestep to the left or in a contracloclrwisedirection, according to Fig. 1. In rdoing this the changed relation ofthe contact armsy to the sectors produces certain changes in the variouselectrical circuits. For convenience in vtracing 'the circuits themechanism shown in Fig. 12 will not be mentioned piece by piece but theycircuits will be traced directly from the trolley wire to the variouswires 49, 50, 65, 66. The movement of the v.contact arm 121 intoengagementwith the y ing from the left repeats the operation abovemetallic sector 104 completes the following circuit: trolley wire 56,wire 191 (center of Fig. 1), contact arm 121, sector 104, wire 189,whence the current divides, a portion passing through wire 1671D to redlamp 72 and thence through wire 74 to ground; anotherl portion passingthrough wire 187a to the white lamp and thence through wire 71 toground. The red lamp 72 in front of the car and the white lamp 70 at therear of the car, which is now in the block, are thus lighted and lreptburning so long as the car remains. Suppose, now, that a second singlecar, also arriving from the left, enters the block. There is no dangerof a collision between these cars for the reason that the operator incharge of the second car has the lights before him and is there foreapprised as to the condition of the block, so that he exercises caution.The car in passing the trolley switch 14 again causes the contactmechanism contained in this switch to be actuated as before, so as tomomentarily place the trolley wire 56 in communication with the wire 49.rThe circuit above traced is now closed again. The magnet 77 isenergized as before and the contact arms 121 to 126 inclusive areseverally turned one step farther to the left according to Fig. 1. Eachsuccessive car now enterdescribed so that each car entering the blockfrom the left causes each and every contact arm to move one step fartherto the left, this step representing, as above described, the length of asingle tooth upon any one of the toothed wheelscarried by the mainswitch, but causes no change in any circuit. The number of cars whichcan be accommodated in the block is limited only by the sizes of themetallic sectors in the main switch and the number of teeth which can begiven the various toothed wheels, or rather those parts of the toothedwheels which represent the dimensions of the metallic sectors. Duringall the time while the block is wholly or partially filling up withcars, the lamps as hrst lighted continue to burn. Suppose, now, that asingle car leaves the block, moving off toward the right. In doing thisit passes the trolley switch 15 (identical in construction with thetrolley switch 14) and establishes momentary communication between thetrolley wire 56 and the wire 65. The following circuit is thuscompleted: trolley wire 56, wire 65, wire 223, contact arm 224 of switch20 (this switch not having been disturbed), sector 220, wire 214, wire202, contact arm 122 (for the time being to the left o-f its normalposition), sectorl 108, wire 211, wire 210, magnet 76, wires 208, 20.9and l194, to ground. The completion of this circuit energizes themagnets 76 and causes the shaft of the main switch to turn one step tothe right or in a clockwise direction according to Fig. 1. Any other carmoving out of the block toward theright, according to Fig. 1, repeatsthe operation just described, the net result being that the contact arms121 to 126 inclusive severally can move one step in a clockwisedirection. Up to this stage the step-by-step movements of the contactarms in the direction indicated have no effect upon the circuits. Assoon, however, as the last car leaves the block, the contact arms inmoving their last step resume their respective normal positions and indoing so the circuit through the lamps 70, 72 is broken and the lightsare extinguished. This is because the contact arm 121, in moving out ofengagement with the metallic sector 104, opens the circuit through theselamps. 1t seldom happens, however, that cars move into the block and outagain in the order above described. Frequently several cars may be inthe block and the last car to enter may back out of the block. In thisinstance it is desirable that the shaft of the main switch shall beturned one step so that the contact arms 121 to 126 inclusive are allturned slightly toward their' respective normal positions. Unless thisis done the lamps will not behave properly-that is, the lights mustbecome extinguished when the last car leaves the block, and if the carin backing out of the block produces no recording effect anywhere, thesubsequent departure of the last car in the block might fail to affectthe lights.

In order that a car, entering while the block is occupied and thenbacking out from the block, may be sure to have its appropriate effectin maintaining the status of the switch mechanism, and thereby avoid thetrouble above indicated, the main switch is operated in like manner asif the car left in the opposite direction. Suppose, for instance, thatthere are several cars in the bloclr, all having entered from the left,and that the last car to enter backs out of the block, moving, ofcourse, toward the left. lVhen the car passes the switch 14communication is established between the trolley wire 56 and the wire50, the following circuit being thus completed: trolley wire 56, wire50, wire 200, contact arm 179, metallic sector 173, of auxiliary switch19, wires 201, 202, contact arm 122 (now to the left), contact sector108, wires 211, 210, magnet 76, wires 208, 209 and 194 to ground. Thisenergizes the magnet 76 and actuates the shaft of the main switch so asto move the same one step in like manner as if the departing car hadleft in the opposite direction. The main switch therefore registers theretrogression of the car and assumes a condition commensurate with suchdeparture. lVhen, therefore, the cars still occupying the blt-ck leaveone by one, the departure of the last car its normal condition andthereby extinguish the light of the lamps 70, 72- Suppose, again, thattwo cars are upon the block, arriving` from opposite directions andfacing each other. This may happen, for instance,

when two cars approach the block Jfrom opposite directions and one caryenters, say from the left, a second or two earlier than the other carenters from the right. The car first entering obtains, in a sense,control over the main switch 18, and the car last entering does so intechnical disregard of the signal given by the lights. This signal maybe flashed so suddenly that the car last entering has no time to stopand is already in the block before any opportunity is given to recede.The second car to enter the block, f

as just described, in passing the switch 15, establishes communicationbetween the trolley wire 56 and the wire 66, thereby completing thefollowing circuit: trolley wire 56, wire 66, wire 213, contact arm 126(temporarily moved to the left), sector 11S, wire 227, magnet 215 ofauxiliary switchV 20, wires 226, 225, 209 and 194 to ground. Thisenergizes the magnet 215y and causes the contact arms 222, 224 to moveto the left according to F ig. 1. The lights are not affected. The carmay now back out of the block, that is, move out toward the rightaccording to Fig. 1. 1n passing the trolley switch 15, the trolley wire56 is brought into electrical communication with the wire Vand. thefollowing circuit is thus completed:

trolley wire 56, wire 65, wire 211 contact arm 222 (temporarily to theleft), sector 218, wire 229, magnet 216, wires 225, 209, 194 to ground.This energizes the magnet 216 and the subsequent denergizing of thismagnet restores the switch 2O to its normal condition. This operationhas no eifect upon the lights. The auxiliary switches 19, 20 thus act ina sense as a protection to the main switch. That is to say, theauxiliary switches, acting in conjunction with the main switch make itpossible for a car, having accidentally entered a block regardless ofthe warning given by a danger signal, to back out again without a'ectingthe main switch. Except for the auxiliary switches 19, 2O thus actingconjointly with the main switch, a car might enter the block travelingin the so-called wrong directionthat is, Jfacing and traveling towardone or more cars which had previously stopped in the block and inbacking out, the car thus accidentally or improperly in the switch, byacting in much the same manner as any other car coming through the blockwould actuate the main switch one step toward the extinguishment of thelights. By acting thus, the car intruding in the block and coming in thewrong direction would dismesse@ turb the system and cause the lights togive a false indication.

" By my arrangement above described, any

car which enters the block obtains possession, as it were, of the mainswitch and other cars entering from the same direction having no effectswhatever upon the lights as established by the first car moving in. If,now, another car enters the block from the opposite direction and backsout again, it is necessary toV have something for this lastdirectioncontrary to that described in connectionl with it, the action of thesystem is the same, with the exception that the movements of the variouscontact arms is in the opposite direction and that the auxiliaryswitches 19, 2O are substituted for each other; that is to say, eachhalf of the system being an exact duplicate of the other half, anythinga car may do in traveling toward the right or toward the left as thecase may be, it can do if traveling in the contrary direction and underconditions otherwise the same.

1n describing the auxilia-ry switch- 19 (which is analogous in every wayto the switch 20) it was stated that the contact Vmentioned car tooperate upon in order to arms 180, 179 were retarded a little in theirmovements under the impulse of the magnet 148. The purpose of thisarrangement is to maintain the arm 179 out of engagement with the sector173, so that the dying current through the auxiliary switch 19 could notenergize magnet 77. Similarly,

when the circuit is through the auxiliaryV switch 20, thc Contact arm224 must be kept out of engagement with the sector 220, u ntil thecurrent ceases to flow.` Except for these provisions, one or the otherof the magnets 76, 7 7 might be accidentally ener- -gized, and cause thelights to be extin- The Contact arm 122 differentiates between themagnet 76, 77, and is controllable only by cars leaving the block,unless the auxiliary switches have been brought into play. The contactarm 123 serves to maintain temporary communication between itself andthe magnet 77 in order to control the direction of movement of the shaftof the main switch whenever cars enter from the left. n

The contact arm 124; is for the purpose of temporarily establishingcommunication between itself and the magnet 76, its operation being'otherwise analogous to that of the contact arm 123. 1t is used only whencars enter the block from the right. The contact arm 125 serves toestablish temporary communication between itself and the auxiliaryswitch 19, in order to arrange this switch ready for immediate servicein case another car should move so as to require the service of thisswitch.

lThe contact arm 126 serves to maintain temporary communication betweenitself and the auxiliary switch 20, in order that a car under certainconditions, above described, may affect the switch. The contact arm 222controls the magnet 216, while the contact arm 224, under normalconditions, controls communication between the trolley wire 56 and themagnet 76 or 77, according to the condition of the block. The contactarm 180 is sometimes a factor in the control of the magnets 143, andconsequently of the movement of the auxiliary switch 19. The action ofthe contact arm 180 is analogous to that of contact arm 222, and that ofthe contact arm 179 is analogous to the contact arm 224.

It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the preciseconstruction of the various parts shown, as reasonable changes may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of my invention. While 1preferably employ lamps as signaling members, any other suitable alarmmechanism may be employed in this relation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. 1n a block signal system, the combination of signals at each end ofthe block, a main switch for controlling said signals, electromagneticmeans for moving the switch in one direction, a second electromagneticmeans for moving the switch in an opposite direction, each of saidelectromagnetic means having two circuits, means for closing a circuitthrough one of said electromagnetic means when a car enters the bloc/lrat one end and for closing the other circuit therethrough when a carleaves the block at that end, the circuits of the other electromagneticmeans being similarly controlled at the other end of the block, thecircuits closed by cars entering` the block including contacts normallyclosed at the main switch and the circuits closed by cars leaving theblock including contacts normally open at the main switch, the operationof the main switch by one of said electromagnetic means breaking thenormally closed contacts and closing the normally open contacts includedin the circuits of the other electromagnetic means'.

2. 1n a block signal system, the combina-- tion of signals at each endof the block, a main switch for controlling said signals,electromagnetic means for moving the switch in one direction, a secondelectromagnetic means for movingthe switch in an opposite direction,each of said electromagnetic means having two circuits, means forclosing a circuit through one of said electromagnetic means when a carenters the block at one end and for closing the other circuittherethrough when a car leaves the block at that end, the circuits ofthe other electromagnetic means being similarly controlled at the otherend of the block, an auxiliary switch and electromagnets for moving thesame in opposite directions, connections operated by the main switchwhen moved by one of said electromagnetic means for disconnecting theother electromagnetic means from the circuit closed by a car enteringthe block and connecting in said circuit an electromagnet for moving theauxiliary switch, and connections operated by said auxiliary switch whenso moved for disconnecting said other electromagnetic means from thecircuit closed by a car leaving the block and connecting therein anelectromagnet for moving the auxiliary switch in an opposite direction.

3. 1n a bloelr signal system, the combination of signals at each end ofthe block, a main switch for controlling said signals, electromagneticmeans for moving the switch in, one direction, electromagnetic means formovingl the switch in opposite direction, each of said electromagneticmeans having two circuits, means for closing a circuit through one ofsaid electromagnetic means when a car enters the block at one end andfor closing the other circuit therethrough when a car leaves the blockat that end, the circuits of the other electromagnetic means beingsimilarly controlled at the other end of the block, an auxiliary switchformed with a rotatable shaft, a plurality of contact arms radiatingtherefrom, a metallic segment for each of said arms, and an insulatingsegment for each of said arms co-acting with said metallic segment formaking a complete circle over which said arms are adapted to move,electromagnets for moving said shaft in opposite directions, connectionsoperated by the' main switch When moved by one of said first mentionedelectromagnetic means for disconnecting the other of said firstmentioned electromagnetic means from the circuit closed by e carentering the block7 and connecting` in said circuit one( of Saidelectromagnets to move said auxiliary switch, and connections operatedby seid auxiliary switch when so moved for dis- 10 connecting said otherirst mentionedy electromagnetic means from the` circuit closed by e carleaving the block and connecting therein an electromegnet for moving theauxiliary switch in an opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 15 name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses'.

WILLIAM VERNON RYDER.

.Witnesses WALToN HARRISON, JOHN P. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe' "Commissioner of Patents,

f Y Washington, D. C. Y

